Current complex security challenges call for solid and well-governed institutions. Therefore, producing good governance in the defense and security institutions – a complex task in and of itself – must become a state priority. In other words, if nations want to generate adequate responses that can lead to improved security and defense of the Western Hemisphere, they must first devote serious efforts to improve their ministerial and sectoral capacities.

Accordingly, the DG course brings together senior-level government officials to empower the next generation of executives and decision-makers with tools and know-how so that they address and better respond to a key question: how do we improve our institutional capacity to more appropriately attend to the requirements of this changed and increasingly complex strategic environment?

The course will explore several key concepts related to producing good governance in the defense institution. This will include addressing the principles and characteristics of good governance; examining key defense management processes such as policy formulation and resource management and the role they play in producing this as an outcome; employing tools to understand, analyze, and determine security and defense requirements in the strategic environment; and understanding the role key actors other than Defense Ministries play in the governance of the defense institution.

Think strategically and critically about their institutional environment and be able to not only identify gaps and limitations but devise strategies to address these.

Better participate, through execution of their assigned roles, in the process of improving overall ministerial capacity.

This is a six-week course, with a four-week online phase and two-week residential phase. Participants use National Defense University's (NDU) distance learning system Blackboard, to download reading material, submit assignments and participate in virtual discussions. The four-week online phase consists of a one week familiarization with this technological platform, two weeks of substantive/content work, and a fourth week to finalize requirements for travel. The subsequent two-week residential phase is conducted using a combination of individual study, required readings and thematic small-group discussions, lectures, panels and exercises.

The course content is tailored in response to the policy priorities of both the Western Hemisphere Affairs and the Security Cooperation offices in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, as well as the objectives of US Southern and Northern Commands. In particular, the DG course focuses on subject areas addressing improved ministerial capacity through better institutional governance of the security and defense sectors, in order to have these produce more effective and sustainable contributions. The DG course thus contributes to the larger DoD enterprise focus on Defense Institution Building (DIB).

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS(click on the + below to open the individual items)

Participants should be senior-level practitioners (O-5/O-6 and civilian equivalents, e.g., Director-level) from security and defense establishments with responsibilities for advising and/or contributing to the improvement of security and defense decision-making processes. Appropriate candidates will fit one or more of the following profiles:

Policy-makers, advisors, or key stakeholders in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies in the security and defense sectors, including but not limited to the areas of military, police, justice/judicial, foreign affairs, national legislatures, think tanks, and NGOs.

Candidates must possess a university degree; military and police personnel must have completed a war-college course or equivalent. Exceptions to the above will be made on a case-by-case basis with minimum requirements including command and staff college (or equivalent), or substantial professional work experience in the case of civilians without an appropriate degree.

The DG course is conducted in Spanish. However, recommended reading materials may be in English; therefore, the ideal participant will possess a proficient level of English reading comprehension.